It sounds like every band's worst nightmare: The lead singer doubling as a producer. Most frontmen already act too much like they're in charge.
Matt Kirby, guitarist for Minneapolis' little emo band that could, Quietdrive, admitted that he and the rest of the band had trepidations about singer Kevin Truckenmiller helming their second album, "Deliverance." The decision to have Truckenmiller produce was part of the band's shift to the indie/D.I.Y. life following mixed success on Epic Records.
"I think we all had reservations about it, including Kevin, who knew a lot more would be riding on his shoulders," Kirby said. "In the end, though, the whole experience brought us all together closer as a band. This, more than the first record, really is us."
From a production standpoint, "Deliverance" indeed sounds as polished as -- and is even more well-rounded than -- Quietdrive's 2006 Epic debut, "When All That's Left Is You," which included sonic tweaking by big-shot producer Butch Walker. That album sold 64,000 copies and earned the band a Top 40 hit with its weepy cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time."
Despite the modest success, Epic stalled on issuing a second single and, like all big labels, has been downsizing its staff. So Quietdrive cut and run, paying for the recording of "Deliverance" with money saved from its staggering run of 900 live dates in under four years. The disc will now be released by California indie label the Militia Group.
"You could look at it as taking a step back, but we see it as we've taken more control," Kirby said. "The big thing was being able to release this record as soon as we wanted."
Despite its lesser budget, "Deliverance" has more of everything that the debut album offered: more angst (the opener "Believe" is especially feisty), more lovelorn balladry (the vaguely twangy "Birthday" is all about being a bad boyfriend) and more pent-up sexuality (the R-rated "Daddy's Little Girl" wouldn't get played on any Disney stations).
True to form, the band will do a lot more touring to promote the record. Its itinerary includes a USO tour of Middle East military bases, plus the quintet's first U.K. and Japanese tours.
